AIS and Good Money Forge Strategic Alliance for Financial Inclusion

AIS and Good Money Forge Strategic Alliance for Financial Inclusion

In a landmark move poised to reshape the landscape of financial access for millions, Thailand’s leading digital life service provider, AIS, has announced a strategic partnership with Good Money by GSB, a state-backed digital lending platform. This collaboration directly confronts the nation’s rising cost of living and persistent household debt challenges by synergizing telecommunications and financial technology. The initiative offers a powerful incentive: AIS prepaid customers who are approved for a legal, regulated loan through the Good Money application will receive a complimentary high-speed internet bonus, a move designed to provide both immediate financial relief and crucial digital connectivity to those who need it most.

In an economic climate marked by volatility and increasing financial pressures on households, a pioneering partnership between two industry titans is set to offer a new lifeline to a significant portion of the Thai population. The collaboration between AIS One-2-Call! 5G and Good Money by GSB, a digital lending entity within the Government Savings Bank’s corporate family, represents one of the most significant convergences of telecommunications and financial services in recent memory. It is an initiative born from a deep understanding of the economic hardships faced by everyday citizens, particularly those in the informal economy who often find themselves excluded from traditional banking services. The core of this alliance is a direct and tangible benefit aimed squarely at AIS’s vast prepaid customer base: upon approval for a loan from Good Money, customers will automatically receive a bonus of 5GB of free 5G internet, valid for seven days, running from today until August 31, 2025.

This initiative arrives at a critical juncture for the Thai economy. Many individuals, especially freelancers, small merchants, and daily wage earners, grapple with income instability, making them particularly vulnerable to economic shocks and the escalating cost of living. For this demographic, accessing credit can be a formidable challenge, often pushing them toward unregulated, high-interest informal lenders, which can exacerbate their financial difficulties. Recognizing this systemic issue, AIS is leveraging its extensive reach and trusted brand identity to bridge this gap. The company’s prepaid segment alone comprises over 32.5 million subscribers, a diverse group representing the very backbone of the nation’s workforce. This partnership effectively transforms a mobile phone number into a potential gateway for safe and reliable financial support, democratizing access to credit in an unprecedented way.

The strategic brilliance of this collaboration lies in its symbiotic nature. For Good Money by GSB, which operates under the stringent oversight of the Bank of Thailand, partnering with AIS provides immediate and direct access to a massive, well-defined target audience. It is a highly efficient channel for customer acquisition, bypassing traditional marketing costs and leveraging the deep-seated trust that customers have in the AIS brand. Conversely, for AIS, this venture transcends a simple marketing promotion. It enriches its value proposition, transforming the AIS One-2-Call! service from a mere communication tool into a comprehensive ecosystem that supports customers’ overall well-being. It is a powerful statement of corporate responsibility and a strategic move to foster profound customer loyalty in a competitive market.

The vision driving this partnership was articulated with clarity by the leadership of both organizations. Mrs. Benjaporn Kampetch, Head of Prepaid Marketing at AIS, shed light on the motivation behind the initiative. “Our prepaid customer base currently exceeds 32.5 million users, encompassing a wide range of professions from salaried employees and merchants to daily wage earners and other freelancers who may face income uncertainty and financial liquidity issues due to economic fluctuations and the rising cost of living,” she explained.

Mrs. Kampetch further stated, “We saw an opportunity to be part of alleviating our customers’ financial burdens. Therefore, we have collaborated with Good Money to grant special privileges to AIS One-2-Call! 5G customers who apply for and are approved for a loan. They will receive a 5GB high-speed internet bonus, usable for 7 days, to support Thais in accessing a reliable, safe, and accessible source of funding for all professions, as well as to facilitate access to basic digital services like the internet”.

This sentiment was echoed by Ms. Sirinun Jiradilok, Managing Director of Ngern Dee Dee Company Limited, the operator of Good Money by GSB. She emphasized the platform’s core mission and the enhanced value this partnership brings. “Good Money by GSB is committed to providing transparent, legal, and easily accessible loan services for the Thai people,” Ms. Jiradilok stated. “This collaboration with AIS will elevate the customer experience by providing a free internet service. We hope this project will enable users to effectively access both financial services and online connectivity”. The unified message from both leaders underscores a shared commitment to leveraging technology not just for profit, but for tangible social progress, aiming to create a more resilient and financially inclusive society.

Delving deeper into the mechanics, the process is designed for simplicity and accessibility. Any AIS prepaid customer can apply for a loan directly through the “Good Money by GSB” mobile application. The platform offers two primary loan products tailored to different needs: a personal loan with an annual interest rate ranging from 19% to 25%, and a nano-finance loan with an interest rate between 19% and 33% per year. These rates are fully regulated, offering a transparent and much safer alternative to the exorbitant interest charged by loan sharks. This focus on responsible lending is a cornerstone of the project, with both companies actively promoting the principle of borrowing only what is necessary and can be comfortably repaid, fostering a culture of sustainable financial health.

Furthermore, the provision of a 5GB data bonus is far more significant than it appears at first glance. In the 21st-century economy, internet access is not a luxury but a fundamental necessity. It is the conduit for commerce, education, communication, and employment. For a small business owner, this data can be used to manage online orders or a social media presence. For a freelancer, it can mean the ability to search for new projects and communicate with clients. For any individual, it facilitates access to online banking, government services, and vital information. By bundling financial relief with digital empowerment, AIS and Good Money are providing a holistic support package. This aligns perfectly with AIS’s broader vision of transforming into a “Cognitive Tech-Co,” an intelligent technology organization that proactively uses its infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for all Thais. With a total of 45.7 million mobile subscribers and 5.1 million broadband customers, AIS has the scale and the technological backbone to make such a vision a reality.

In conclusion, the alliance between AIS One-2-Call! 5G and Good Money by GSB is a watershed moment for financial and digital inclusion in Thailand. It is a strategically astute response to pressing socioeconomic needs, demonstrating how cross-industry collaboration can generate immense value for consumers and society at large. By transforming a mobile connection into a conduit for regulated credit and simultaneously bolstering digital access, this partnership does more than just offer a loan; it offers opportunity, stability, and a pathway to greater economic participation for millions. It sets a new benchmark for corporate synergy and stands as a powerful testament to how technology can be harnessed as a force for positive, equitable change.

#FinancialInclusion #AIS #GoodMoneybyGSB #DigitalLending #FinTech #ThailandEconomy #HouseholdDebt #EconomicRelief #DigitalDivide #Telco #GSB

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